The World Cup's greatest ever kits: Sportsmail looks back at 10 of the best including England, Brazil and Germany
- Sportsmail has looked back at 10 of the most memorable World Cup strips
- Every nation expected to use a new kit for the 2018 World Cup in Russia
- Who comes out on top in a range of the unique and stunning designs?
Sportsmail's countdown to the World Cup continues as we take a look at the best ever kits to grace the greatest the Beautiful game's biggest event. The series kicked off on Monday with our list of the 10 most controversial moments, which you can read here. ..
The World Cup finals are just around the corner, and there is perhaps no bigger wake-up call ahead of the finals in Russia as teams begin to release their strips for the tournament.
But how do they compare to previous kits from down the years? Here Sportsmail looks back on the 10 best ever World Cup strips...
10. Argentina (home), 1978
In fairness to Argentina they don't often turn up to World Cups with hideous kits. On the contrary, it pains us to leave out brilliant designs from 1998, 2002 and 2014.
![Argentina's 1978 World Cup winners had shirt numbers given to them in alphabetical order](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/08/18/4900158D00000578-5367791-image-a-21_1518112921079.jpg)
Argentina's 1978 World Cup winners had shirt numbers given to them in alphabetical order
But it's their first strip to feature the national team crest in 1978 that stands out, and not just because it led them to World Cup glory on home soil.
It also featured a peculiar system where players' shirt numbers were handed out in alphabetical order.
9. United States (away), 1994
One of the iconic sights of the World Cup in 1994 was Alexi Lalas marauding around the United States defence... at least in the away strip anyway.
![Alexi Lalas celebrates following USA's victory over Colombia at the 1994 World Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/08/18/49001F0600000578-5367791-image-a-22_1518113044210.jpg)
Alexi Lalas celebrates following USA's victory over Colombia at the 1994 World Cup
The blue away kit splashed with stars was a work of beauty. In fact the 'stars' kit was so good it made the 'stripes' home kit look bland by comparison.
Although the stripes home kit is also let down by featuring a ridiculous wavy appearance which was quite frankly an attack one everyone's eyes.
8. England (home), 1982
England strips rarely feature much detail, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact the Three Lions' strips are often the team's best feature at a World Cup - it certainly isn't the results.
![England's 1982 team pose for a photo before their first World Cup finals in 12 years](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900214500000578-5367791-England_s_1982_team_pose_for_a_photo_before_their_first_World_Cu-a-21_1518539938075.jpg)
England's 1982 team pose for a photo before their first World Cup finals in 12 years
But I digress, when England do veer away from the basics on the style front they can often produce cool designs, none more so than Admiral's effort at the 1982 World Cup.
The Three Lions' turned up at their first World Cup in 12 years topped with blue and red shoulders and it's rarely forgotten - to the point that their pre-match kit in Russia will pay homage to the design.
7. Holland (home), 1974
Nobody had seen Holland at a World Cup since the 1930s, so when they gatecrashed the 1974 tournament with the brand of 'Total Football' and bright orange shirts it was a sight to behold.
![Johann Cruyff of Holland dribbles past Argentina keeper Daniel Carnevali on his way to scoring in a 1974 quarter-final. Although Holland were kit supplied by adidas, Cruyff never wore the three stripes on his match shirt having signed a deal with Puma](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/049567DE0000044D-5367791-Johann_Cruyff_of_Holland_dribbles_past_Argentina_keeper_Daniel_C-a-20_1518539938075.jpg)
Johann Cruyff of Holland dribbles past Argentina keeper Daniel Carnevali on his way to scoring in a 1974 quarter-final. Although Holland were kit supplied by adidas, Cruyff never wore the three stripes on his match shirt having signed a deal with Puma
![Cruyff's kit was unique in featuring two stripes as the rest of his team-mates featured the full three stripes from adidas on their way to a final defeat by West Germany in Munich](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900279F00000578-5367791-Cruyff_s_kit_was_unique_in_featuring_two_stripes_as_the_rest_of_-a-23_1518539938151.jpg)
Cruyff's kit was unique in featuring two stripes as the rest of his team-mates featured the full three stripes from adidas on their way to a final defeat by West Germany in Munich
The team's style of football took the game into a new era, but even the simplicity of the kit was a beauty. The shirt featured just a national crest complimented with adidas stripes for nine outfield players.
Yes, just nine outfield players. Johan Cruyff's sponsorship deal with Puma meant his version of the kit only ever had two stripes. And you think there is too much commercial interest in the game now...
6. Germany (home), 1994
Adidas's arguably most flamboyant national team kit of the 1990s - and it was a stunner.
![Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates scoring for Germany against Belgium at USA '94](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900C82300000578-5367791-Jurgen_Klinsmann_celebrates_scoring_for_Germany_against_Belgium_-a-26_1518539938245.jpg)
Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates scoring for Germany against Belgium at USA '94
![Germany's colour splashed kit from adidas was a typical striking design of the mid-1990s](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900CCEE00000578-5367791-Germany_s_colour_splashed_kit_from_adidas_was_a_typical_striking-a-22_1518539938150.jpg)
Germany's colour splashed kit from adidas was a typical striking design of the mid-1990s
Germany looked the part as defending champions in the United States as their usual white kit was covered in the colours of the national flag from the shoulder down towards the chest.
For Germany supporters though it serves only as a reminder of an afternoon when a Bulgaria team featuring the likes of Hristo Stoichkov and Yordan Letchkov came from a goal down to dump them out the quarter-finals.
5. Mexico (home), 1998
You can normally bet your house on a Mexico World Cup campaign ending in a last-16 exit but at no World Cup was this a sadder sight than France '98.
![Luis Hernandez was a star player for Mexico at the 1998 World Cup finals in France](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/000E090300000258-5367791-image-a-24_1518539938209.jpg)
Luis Hernandez was a star player for Mexico at the 1998 World Cup finals in France
![Mexico reached the last 16 of the tournament before being eliminated by Germany](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/000C577500000258-5367791-image-a-27_1518539938268.jpg)
Mexico reached the last 16 of the tournament before being eliminated by Germany
A young team that had controversially overlooked ageing stars such as Carlos Hermosillo and as a result were quite unfamiliar as they entered a new era.
That soon changed with the help of a magnificent home strip featuring native design stitched into the green strip as the likes of Luis Hernandez powered them into the last-16... before throwing away a lead against Germany and tumbling out.
4. Peru (home), 1970
Sash kits are always popular but only one country has taken them as part of an identity.
![Peru reached the quarter-finals of the 1970 World Cup before being defeated by Brazil](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900D81F00000578-5367791-image-a-25_1518539938238.jpg)
Peru reached the quarter-finals of the 1970 World Cup before being defeated by Brazil
![Peru players wearing their trademark sash kit line up before their clash with Brazil in Mexico](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900D70E00000578-5367791-image-a-28_1518539938315.jpg)
Peru players wearing their trademark sash kit line up before their clash with Brazil in Mexico
Since 1936 Peru have constantly worn a diagonal red stripe starting from the left shoulder, and that will include this summer's finals in Russia where the South American outfit will appear for the first time since 1982.
As for the best of the sash - it has to be 1970 and their march towards the quarter-final before being beaten by Brazil.
3. Brazil (home), 1970
Brazil's yellow and green shirts were less than two decades old by the time they lifted a third World Cup in Mexico, but it was at this tournament that the strip became a symbol of world class.
![Brazil's Jairzinho celebrates scoring the third goal in the 1970 World Cup final against Italy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900DCC700000578-5367791-image-a-30_1518539938376.jpg)
Brazil's Jairzinho celebrates scoring the third goal in the 1970 World Cup final against Italy
![Inspired by Pele (front row, centre right) the Selecao won the World Cup for a record third time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900DADB00000578-5367791-image-a-33_1518539938711.jpg)
Inspired by Pele (front row, centre right) the Selecao won the World Cup for a record third time
Arguably the best Brazil team of all time featuring the likes of Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao and Rivellino swept all before them - including a total demolition job of Italy in the final with a 4-1 win.
Brazil had won World Cups as recent as 1962 and 1958 but as colour TV and broadcasting was on the increase, this particular strip became unforgettable.
2. Croatia (home), 1998
Like Peru and the sash, it seems unthinkable for Croatia to ever veer away from their unique chequered kit.
![Davor Suker celebrates netting against France in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/000F1C7B00000258-5367791-image-a-29_1518539938362.jpg)
Davor Suker celebrates netting against France in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup
![The Croatia striker was top scorer at France '98 with six goals as Croatia came third](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/000E484D00000258-5367791-image-a-32_1518539938556.jpg)
The Croatia striker was top scorer at France '98 with six goals as Croatia came third
![Croatia dazzled in their Lotto kit in what has been their best World Cup finals performance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/000E22B900000258-5367791-image-a-31_1518539938527.jpg)
Croatia dazzled in their Lotto kit in what has been their best World Cup finals performance
But try as they might will never improve on their strip used at France '98 where the team were within a whisker of reaching the final.
Davor Suker was top scorer in Croatia's first ever finals wearing the Lotto strip that slanted the chequered design over two thirds of the kit. It has not aged a day to the point you wonder why they ever changed it.
1. West Germany (home), 1990
The 1990s brought the introduction of flash designs, masses of colour and random patterns on football strips - sometimes all at once if you were Mexican keeper Jorge Campos.
![Rudi Voller (right) was involved in a spat with Holland's Frank Rijkaard before West Germany progressed from the second round clash at Italia '90](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900F37D00000578-5367791-image-a-34_1518539938780.jpg)
Rudi Voller (right) was involved in a spat with Holland's Frank Rijkaard before West Germany progressed from the second round clash at Italia '90
![West Germany would go on to win their third World Cup as Lothar Matthaus (left) and Pierre Littbarski celebrate with the trophy following victory over Argentina in the final](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900ED0400000578-5367791-image-a-35_1518539938789.jpg)
West Germany would go on to win their third World Cup as Lothar Matthaus (left) and Pierre Littbarski celebrate with the trophy following victory over Argentina in the final
![West Germany's strip represented a timeline of their performances from the 1974 World Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/02/13/16/4900E7EE00000578-5367791-image-a-36_1518539938838.jpg)
West Germany's strip represented a timeline of their performances from the 1974 World Cup
West Germany's kit at Italia '90 seemed to be one of the earliest concepts of this with their abstract German flag stretching across the front of the strip. But is there more to it?
The high point on the right sleeve marks the country's World Cup triumph in 1974, the downward trajectory after represents their second round exit in 1978. The slight rise after and stagnation is the symbol of final defeats in 1982 and 1986.
The final rise back to the sleeve represents another World Cup triumph. So yes, West Germany's own strip predicted they would win the World Cup. Only the Germans could pull it off.
Most watched Sport videos
- Giants fans burn quarterback Daniel Jones' jersey after loss
- Montenegro fans create distraction from football with fireworks
- Awkward moment footy great can't pronounce NRL player's name
- Jason Kelce bares all with ex-Eagles teammate in revealing beer ad
- Johnny Gaudreau's wife Meredith announces she is pregnant
- Moment Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill is arrested by police
- Las Vegas Raiders fan body slams a woman during brawl
- Shocking bodycam of Tyreek Hill arrest released by Miami-Dade PD
- Woman exposes NRL boyfriend for leaving her for another
- Sinner defeats home favourite Fritz to win the US Open title
- Ireland fans mock Queen's death aiming chants at England fans
- Tyreek Hill speeds by police before cops aggressively pull him over